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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Psalm 138 Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/expositors/psalms/138.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001com.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1250px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1250px)" href="/1251.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1050px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1050px)" href="/1051.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 900px), only screen and (max-device-width: 900px)" href="/901.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 800px)" href="/801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 575px), only screen and (max-device-width: 575px)" href="/501.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-height: 450px), only screen and (max-device-height: 450px)" href="/h451.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/psalms/138.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/psalms/138-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Ellicott</a> > <a href="../psalms/">Psalm</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../psalms/137.htm" title="Psalm 137">◄</a> Psalm 138 <a href="../psalms/139.htm" title="Psalm 139">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</div><div class="chap"><span class= "bld"> CXXXVIII.</span><p>The suggestion contained in the last addition made to the Hebrew inscription by the LXX. “Of Haggai and Zechariah,” brings this psalm within the post-exile period, the most likely time of its composition. The tone and tenor are what we should look for if Zerubbabel or Nehemiah were its author. Some great success had evidently just been gained (<a href="/context/psalms/138-1.htm" title="I will praise you with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise to you.">Psalm 138:1-5</a>); but trouble still pressed on the community for whom the poet speaks—some work of pressing need was impeded, and Jehovah’s strong hand could alone bring it to completion. This would suit the times of Ezra and Nehemiah.<p>On the other hand, the achievement already performed may have been of a military kind, and the psalm may breathe the hopes of the Maccabæan period. The poetical form is nearly regular and the rhythm stately, as suits the subject.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-1.htm">Psalm 138:1</a></div><div class="verse"><i>A Psalm</i> of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.</div>(1) <span class= "bld">Before the gods.—</span>Undoubtedly, as in <a href="/psalms/82-1.htm" title="God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.">Psalm 82:1</a> : “before the great” or “mighty.” (Comp. <a href="/psalms/119-46.htm" title="I will speak of your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.">Psalm 119:46</a>, “before kings.”)<p><span class= "bld">Sing praise.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">play.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-2.htm">Psalm 138:2</a></div><div class="verse">I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.</div>(2) Notice that “loving-kindness” and “truth” are joined as inseparable attributes of Jehovah in His relation to the chosen race.<p><span class= "bld">For thou hast magnified—</span><span class= "ital">i.e.,</span> the promise made for help and deliverance has been fulfilled, and more than fulfilled. The psalmist often speaks of <span class= "ital">Jehovah’s name, </span>or <span class= "ital">reputation, </span>or <span class= "ital">honour </span>being at stake. Here the poet can say that the praise won is even beyond what might have been expected. It is true this would have been expressed more in accordance with our expectation by “Thou hast magnified Thy Name above Thy promise;” but comp. <a href="/psalms/48-10.htm" title="According to your name, O God, so is your praise to the ends of the earth: your right hand is full of righteousness.">Psalm 48:10</a> for a similar thought, and for the language comp. Tennyson’s:<p>“I am “become a name.”<p>The LXX. and Vulg. felt the difficulty too great, and render “Thy holy one,” instead of “Thy word.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-3.htm">Psalm 138:3</a></div><div class="verse">In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, <i>and</i> strengthenedst me <i>with</i> strength in my soul.</div>(3) <span class= "bld">Strengthenedst me with strength.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">encouragest me strongly. </span>(See Note to <a href="/songs/6-5.htm" title="Turn away your eyes from me, for they have overcome me: your hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.">Song of Solomon 6:5</a>, where the same Hebrew form occurs.)<p><span class= "bld">In my soul.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">at my desire.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-4.htm">Psalm 138:4</a></div><div class="verse">All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.</div>(4, 5) The general sense of these verses is plain, though there are slightly different ways of understanding the expressions. The psalmist imagines that the word or <span class= "ital">promise, </span>which has been so abundantly fulfilled, will, by its performance, convince all the kings of the earth, and bring them in confession and praise to Jehovah. For a Hebrew the expression “hear the words of Thy mouth,” referring in this instance immediately back to <a href="/psalms/138-2.htm" title="I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name for your loving kindness and for your truth: for you have magnified your word above all your name.">Psalm 138:2</a>, was synonymous with “see Thy wonders,” since for them “God spoke and it was done.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-5.htm">Psalm 138:5</a></div><div class="verse">Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great <i>is</i> the glory of the LORD.</div>(5) <span class= "bld">In the ways.—</span>Rather, <span class= "ital">of the ways, </span>this preposition being so used frequently after verbs of speaking praising (comp. <a href="/psalms/20-7.htm" title="Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.">Psalm 20:7</a>; <a href="/psalms/44-8.htm" title="In God we boast all the day long, and praise your name for ever. Selah.">Psalm 44:8</a>; <a href="/psalms/87-3.htm" title="Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah.">Psalm 87:3</a>; <a href="/psalms/105-2.htm" title="Sing to him, sing psalms to him: talk you of all his wondrous works.">Psalm 105:2</a>), though there is no parallel instance of such a use with this particular verb <span class= "ital">sing.</span><p>For <span class= "ital">ways </span>used of God’s mighty works in creation see <a href="/job/26-14.htm" title="See, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?">Job 26:14</a>; <a href="/job/40-19.htm" title="He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach to him.">Job 40:19</a>; of His action in history, <a href="/psalms/18-30.htm" title="As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.">Psalm 18:30</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/32-4.htm" title="He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.">Deuteronomy 32:4</a>. It seems against the parallelism to understand literally that the heathen kings would come to walk in God’s ways—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>in righteousness, and so praise Him, as in <a href="/micah/4-2.htm" title="And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.">Micah 4:2</a>. The meaning is that heathen monarchs will be compelled to acknowledge the glory of Jehovah.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-6.htm">Psalm 138:6</a></div><div class="verse">Though the LORD <i>be</i> high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.</div>(6) <span class= "bld">Knoweth afar off.</span>—Or, <span class= "ital">recognises from afar. </span>From His exaltation Jehovah looks down alike on the lowly and on the proud, but it is to show a gracious interest in the former, while the latter are merely marked as persons to be kept at a distance. “Lowliness and humility are the court dress of God; he who wears them will please Him well.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-7.htm">Psalm 138:7</a></div><div class="verse">Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.</div>(7) This verse echoes <a href="/psalms/23-4.htm" title="Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.">Psalm 23:4</a>; <a href="/psalms/30-3.htm" title="O LORD, you have brought up my soul from the grave: you have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.">Psalm 30:3</a>; <a href="/psalms/71-20.htm" title="You, which have showed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shall bring me up again from the depths of the earth.">Psalm 71:20</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Against the wrath.—</span>Or perhaps, <span class= "ital">upon the wrath.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/psalms/138-8.htm">Psalm 138:8</a></div><div class="verse">The LORD will perfect <i>that which</i> concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, <i>endureth</i> for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">Perfect that which concerneth me.</span>—Or, as in the analogous phrase (<a href="/psalms/57-2.htm" title="I will cry to God most high; to God that performes all things for me.">Psalm 57:2</a>), <span class= "ital">will complete for me</span>—<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>either <span class= "ital">“</span>all my undertakings,” or, as in <a href="/philippians/1-6.htm" title="Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:">Philippians 1:6</a>, “what he has begun in and for me.”<p><span class= "bld">Forsake not.</span>—Better, <span class= "ital">the works of Thine hands; do not leave them unfinished. </span>(See for the same verb <a href="/nehemiah/6-3.htm" title="And I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?">Nehemiah 6:3</a>; <a href="/proverbs/4-13.htm" title="Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.">Proverbs 4:13</a> : “let her not go.”)<p>The special intention of the prayer depends on the origin of the psalm. If it arose out of the troubles of rebuilding Jerusalem and reconstituting the state, it is intelligible and expressive. Or the reference may be to all Jehovah’s gracious intentions for Israel.<p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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